Car truck



March 28, 1933. w, M. SHEEHAN ET AL 1.9023

CAR TRUCK Filed May 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l J7? verefor Mum/17%;? an

March 8, 1933. w. M. SHEEHAN ET AL 1,902,974

CAR TRUCK Filed May 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g k fi farncy Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE/f WILLIAM M, s IEEIIAmor s1. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND WILLIAM s. McGILVRA YQbIi GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T GENERAL STEEL cAsT NGs CORPORATION,

OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DEL AWARE Application filed May 23, 1930, $er ia1 No. 455,017, and in Italy Apri1 15, 1930.

The invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in a novel spring plank by swinging links.

One of the objects of the invention is to increase the clearance between the rail and the spring plank and associated parts and this object is accomplished by shortening the suspension links and pivoting the lower ends directly to. the spring plank thereby eliminating the cross bar extending below the spring plank and carried by the links, which arrangement has been in general use heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide for vertical adjustment of the bolster. This object is accomplished by making the spring plank reversible top for bottom, and locating the spring mounting surfaces of the opposite sides of the spring plank at different distances from the pivotal connection to the swinging links.

These and other detailed objects. of the invention are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- I Figure 1 is a top view of one-half of a four wheel truck ofthe type referred to and equipped with the invention. 1

Figure 2 is, in part, a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 and, in part, a longitudinal vertical section through the bolster, truck frame and spring plank and link.

I Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4:, 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which Figure 4 is, in part,

- a t'op'view of a difleren't form of spring plank and, in part, is a section on the line k4 of the spring plank, and, in part, a vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 4:; Figurefi is a side elevation of the spring'plank.

The truck illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 includes. wheels 1, journal boxes 2, equalizers 3, which are carried on the journal boxes and which mount coil springs 1 supporting the truck frame 5. 3 This truck frame is. here shown as a single casting, the sides of which are connected by end transoms 6 and center transoms 7. Swinging links 8'are suspended from the end portions of transoms 7 by means of pins 9. To this point the structure described corresponds to structures previously in use. 5 1

The, spring plank 10, which iscarried by the links 8, is of shallow box-like section from end to end and at its ends is provided with lateral extensions 11 eachhaving a rectangular vertical opening 12 through which the lower end of'a corresponding link 8 may project. A suitable pin 13 extends horizontally through the portions of each extension 7 11 which form the sides of the opening 12 'and through the lower end of the link positioned in the opening. Preferably, the spring plank and the link will-be provided with bushings 14 and 15, respectively, seating pin 13, and a cotter 16 will serve to retain the pin in position. I

The upper and lower faces of the ends of the spring plank are provided with pockets 17 and 18 each adapted to seat the elliptic spring 19 which carries the bolster 20 upon which the vehicle body 21 is supported through the truck and body center plate structure indicated at 22.

The bottom of pockets 17 and 18 is located at different distances from the axis A of the pins 13 and by removing pins 13 and turning the springplank up side down, the springs 19 and bolster 20 will be supported at a higher level than that shown in Figures 2 and 3. Conversely, the spring plank may again be reversed and the level'of. the springs and bolster lowered. If the springs should become deformed below their normal height, it would be desirable to raise their seats and if, later, new springs of greater height should be substituted, it would be desirable to again reverse the spring plank to provide the lower mounting. V

Irrespective of. which way the spring plank is turned, there is no pro ection below the lower ends of links 8 and the clearance be- 7 tween the spring plank structure and the ra1l is substantially greater than in previous structures in which a cross bar extended below the spring plank and was connectedto the-hanger links.

' In the modification illustrated in Figures 4:, 5 and 6, the spring plank 23 is provided with extensions 24 similarly to the extensions [provided on the spring plank 10 shown in the preferred structurebut the openings 25 for receiving the links 26 are U-shaped instead of rectangular, the outer ends of the openings spring plank is not reversible and only one of the spring plank.

spring 'seatpocket 32 is provided at each end The cross bar usually provided below the spring plank -is f eliminated, however, and the portions of the spring plank to which the links are connected are strengthened substantially by use of'the deeper vertical walls 27 and 28and byuse of the connecting web 29.

We claim: 7 1 V a 1. In a truck of the class described, a frame,

swinging links suspended from said frame,

a spring plank having rectangular openings extending vertically through its end portions and receiving and surrounding the lower ends of said swinginglinks, and pivot pins extending through said links and the adjacent walls of said openings.

' 2. In a truck of the class described, a frame, swinging links suspended from said frame,

va spring plank having openings for receiving the lower ends of said swinging links,

and pivotcpins extending through said links and the adjacent sides of said openings.

3. Ina truck of the class described, a frame :having spaced center transoms, swinging links suspended from saidtransoms, a bolster between'saidtransoms. bolster springs carrying said bolster, a spring plank beneath said springs and provided with enlarged end portions extending under said transoms, and swinglng links suspended from said tr'ansoms at the sides of said springs with their lower ends pivoted directly to the enlarged portions of said spring plank.

4. In a truck of the class described, a frame, a spring plank, swinging links supporting said spring, plank from said frame, said spring plank having a plurality of spring seats at each end arranged to support a spring carried thereon at different levels relative to said frame. V

5. In afitruck of the class described, a frame, a spring plank, swinging links supporting said spring plank from said frame, said spring plank being reversible and provided with'spring seat elements" on bothits upper and lower sides.

6. In a truck of the class described,a frame,

, swinging links suspended therefrom, a spring plank, horizontal pins pivotally mounting said spring plank ontsaid links, said spring plank having spring seats on its upper and lower faces located at different distances from said pins and. being reversibleto provide for use of either set of seats. a i I 7. A spring plank for car trucks reversible top for bottom and provided, with spring seats on both its upper and lowerfaces. p Y

8. A spring plank for car trucks reversible top for bottom and provided with spring seats on both its upper and lower faces, there being elements on said spring plank for e ngaging supporting members, said elements being located at different distances from the adjacent seats. I v

9. A car truck spring plank provided with spring seats and having suspension-link receiving vertical openings at its ends and link pin bearings adjacent to said openings. 7

10. A car truck spring vplank having suspension-link receiving openings at'its ends, and having said openings.

11. A car truck spring plank having laterpivot pin seats atthe sidesof' ally enlarged end portions provided with suspension-link receiving vertical openings, and there being link pin bearings adjacent to said openings.

. 12. In a truck of the class described, a frame, swinging links suspended from said frame, and a spring plank carried by said links and reversible top for bottom to provide a different height of support for springs mounted thereon. 4 j

13. In a truck of the class described, a frame, a spring plank, and a swinging link suspended from said frame with its lower end projecting through said spring plank and supporting the same.

14. A car truck spring plank provided with spring seats at its ends with portionsprojecting laterally beyond said seats, there being suspension-link receiving openings disposed vertically in said portions at the sides of said seats.

15. In a railway car truck, journals, boxes thereon, a truck mounted on said boxes, links pivotally suspended from opposite sides of said frame, a member extending across said frame and having vertical openings receiving the downwardly extending lower ends of said links, elements pivoting said link ends to said member, said member being swingingly suspended by said links, and a bolster carried by said member.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures this 20th day of May, 1930.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN. WILLIAM S. MOGILVRAY. 

